Feigned Loyalty

Prologue

~October 8th, 1773~

The days started as normal as any.
Constance rose just as the sun did. Light leaked through the curtains as the girl's eyes fluttered open.

A chill filled the air, so cold that Constance shivered under her covers and sat up to investigate. It didn't take her long to realize that her window had been open all night. The birds' singing could be heard clearly from her bed and the ruckus from rising farmers and fishermen could not possibly be missed in the background.

Eventually deciding that she couldn't possibly fall asleep again in this freezing air, she pushed the covers off of her, threw a shawl around her shoulders, and stumbled over to the window, closing it quickly. With a single glance outside, a smile grew on her lips.

Not only was the orange sky beautifully painted from the sunrise, but the water from the harbor had a breathtaking reflection. For a moment, this little town of Setuaket seemed perfect. Soon, the workers began to emerge from their homes and set up their shops for the day.

The peaceful gaze out the window soon came to an end as Constance stepped away and sat at her vanity sleepily. She picked up the brush and ran it through her hair, making sure that there were no tangles or knots before she did her hair.

Her hairstyle was about the same as any other woman in Setuaket, rich or poor. Despite the class difference, her father believed in modesty in and out. A simple bun and cap would do the trick, of which she had mastered at this point. As she twirled her hair and pinned it down, a slight knock came from the door.

"Who is it?" Constance asked pleasantly, looking at the door through her mirror.

A voice called out softly from behind her, "It is Aberdeen, miss."

Constance quickly granted her entrance. Aberdeen was the slave who assisted her in getting dressed. She didn't truly see Aberdeen as a slave, but rather as a handmaid. Sadly, she couldn't deny the truth. The idea of owning a person was entirely unappealing to her, as Aberdeen was always so kind and caring. It was a wonder how someone would ever decide to discriminate upon such wise people, especially those with such great fashion choices when it came to her gowns.

"This one, miss?" Her small mutter spoke from behind Constance.

Constance turned in her seat and smiled the moment her eyes reached the gown. A beautiful floral pattern was sported as the ruffles swirled on the sides. The girl nodded and hurried to pin her cap down as Aberdeen prepared to assist her in dressing.

The slave drew the curtains and picked with the corset.

Ah, yes. The dreaded corset.

Constance was never a fan of corsets. She had used them ever since she was a girl to correct her posture, but now they were just pointless. Men expected women to help at home, but how could anyone bend down in such a garment? It was difficult and frustrating for her, though she had others to do her work for her. Unfortunately, it was proper and women who didn't wear them were frowned upon, which she was sure would greatly upset her father.

Aberdeen got all of Constance's undergarments on with time, but then it was on to the gown. Though her father pushed modesty with her hair, he couldn't stop her from having the best dresses in all of Long Island. In fact, he encouraged it. Constance was grateful for this, as she had quite an eye for the latest fashions.

Being raised in a house full of boys, you'd think that she wouldn't be interested in such things, but she truly was. Her eldest brother, Thomas, often recited the importance of a lady liking such things, in hope that she wouldn't have such boyish thoughts. With constant nagging from women around the town, her mind naturally began finding interest in the finer things in life, such as dresses, hair, and propriety, unlike some other women in the town.

Aberdeen understood this, but needn't try to to hard to pick out a gown of my liking. She had been owned by the Woodhulls' since Constance was a small girl, so she knew exactly what she liked.

Eventually, as Aberdeen finished the gown, Constance's eyes flickered to the drawn curtains and, through the crack, noticed a man walking down the path leading to her home. She immediately recognized him as Benjamin Tallmadge, her brother, Abe's, best friend. For a long time, he was their neighbor, but eventually moved off to Connecticut to attend Yale University. She had remembered her brother telling her that Ben had graduated to too long before.

"How much longer?" Constance blurted out without any thought, to which Aberdeen responded by stepping away.

Constance looked in the mirror for a spell before rushing down just as a knock sounded from the door. A male slave, Zachariah, reached to open it, but the girl quickly waved him away and opened it herself. She grinned as Ben stood in her doorway.

"Constance!" Ben exclaimed, growing her arms around her with joy, but eventually pulled away, "Where's Abe?"

The girl took awhile to respond, as she was trying to recover from her racing heart. She may have had a small crush on Ben, "Abe? I believe he is preparing a farm due east of here. He and Mary wed in a few days time, so best to be foolish now, yes?"

Ben lightly chuckled, but quickly frowned in remembering the reason of Abraham marrying, "My condolences in relation to Thomas. I understand his death has affected your family greatly."

Thomas has passed away in the Liberty Pole riots months before, having taken a big toll on not only Abe, but Constance as well. He was set to wed Mary Smith, the daughter of a wealthy apothecary nearby. In the wake of his death, our families decided to keep the pact and have her marry Constance's other brother, Abraham.

"His death was tragic, but at least my brother and I have decided it is best to agree to disagree." Constance kept a small smile on her lips for her friend's sake as she spoke.

Her words were far from true, and Ben knew this. Abe and Constance had always been butting heads. Thomas was the eldest boy and Constance was the only daughter. They got all of the attention while Abe was in the middle, earning none and always in the shadows. He often took out his irritation on Constance. Ben decided not to mention it, though. Their feuds were none of his business.

"Well, Miss Woodhull, I must be making my way east. It was wonderful to see you, though. It's been too long," Ben smiled sincerely and looked around him before winking.
Before Constance could interrogate him, he hopped down the steps and set off.

That was the last Constance would see of him for years to come. If only she knew.

{A/N: I hope you liked the prologue! The next chapter should be posted soon and will definitely be much longer! If you have any suggestions, don't hesitate to message me!}